In a 13-months laboratory experiment conducted in 2014/2015, the interactive effects of gradually increasing temperature and pCO2 levels on survival, growth and respiration of two prominent colour morphotypes (white and orange) of the framework-forming cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa (also known as Desmophyllum pertusum), as well as bioerosion and dissolution of dead coral framework were assessed. In six-week intervals, three treatments (T1: acidification, T2: warming, T3: combined acidification and warming) were gradually increased in their respective manipulated parameters by 1°C and/or 200 µatm pCO2 after an initial two intervals under ambient (near in-situ) conditions. Each treatment consisted of 7 replicates that were manipulated over the course of the experiment and 3 control replicates that remained at ambient conditions throughout the entire duration of the experiment. Each replicate tank consisted of one live coral fragment of the white morphotype, one fragment of the orange morphotype and one dead framework fragment (naturally bioeroded framework material). Dead framework was examined with regard to attached bioeroders and calcifying organisms, the latter being removed prior to the experiment. All coral samples were collected from an inshore Norwegian cold-water coral habitat in the outer Trondheim-Fjord near Nord-Leksa (63°36.4'N, 09°22.7'E) between 150 to 230 m water depth using the manned submersible JAGO (GEOMAR, 2017; doi:10.17815/jlsrf-3-157) during RV POSEIDON (GEOMAR, 2015; doi:10.17815/jlsrf-1-62) cruise POS455 in June/July 2013. In situ conditions at the time of sampling near the corals were 7.7°C in temperature, 35.2 in salinity and ~6 mL/L oxygen concentration. Prior to the experiment, corals were kept in a closed recirculating system of 1,700 L in a climate-controlled laboratory facility at GEOMAR in Kiel at near in situ conditions of temperature and salinity (7.8 145 ± 0.2 °C and 35.8 ± 0.6) for half a year. Calcification/dissolution rates of live corals and bioerosion/dissolution rates of dead coral framework were determined using the buoyant weighing technique (Davies, 1989; doi:10.1007/BF00428135) with a high precision analytical balance (Sartorius CPA225D, readability = 0.1 mg) placed above every individual aquarium for each measurement. Respiration rates were determined via oxygen consumption measurements using an optode-based oxygen analyser (Oxy-10 mini, PreSens GmbH). Mortality was examined during every six-week interval by visual inspection of all live fragments. Dead polyp counts were calculated as percentage of total polyps counts of every individual fragment. Carbonate system parameters were calculated from the two measured parameters total alkalinity (TA) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). TA and DIC samples were taken at the end of every 6-week interval and analyzed via potentiometric open-cell titration (862 Compact Titrosampler, Metrohm) in case of TA and by infrared detection of CO2 using an Automated Infra-Red Inorganic Carbon Analyzer (AIRICA with LI-COR 7000, Marianda) in case of DIC. TA and DIC were corrected against Certified Reference Material from A.G. Dickson (Scripps Institution of Oceanography) and density-corrected. The purpose of this study was to examine thresholds and optima of live corals under gradual increases of ocean acidification and warming and to quantify dissolution and bioerosion rates of dead coral framework to ultimately assess the balance between live coral calcification and degradation of dead coral framework under future ocean conditions.
